Apparatus for heat treatment of synthetic fibre yarn

ABSTRACT

Heat treatment apparatus for synthetic fiber yarn including a plurality of spaced heating units, each unit including a vertically positioned closed vessel having a longitudinally positioned heater chamber. Liquid in the chamber, when heated, produces a heated vapor in the vessel for heating the exterior yarn contacting faces fixed thereon. The heater chambers are interconnected such that a uniform temperature is maintained in each of the heating units. The units are interconnected by flexible conduits or pipes to allow the spacing between the heating units to be conveniently adjusted.

United States Patent [1 1 Kodaira APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF SYNTHETIC FIBRE YARN [76] Inventor: Nobuhisa Kodaira, 1-10, l-chome, Shoan Suzinami-Ku, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 239,204

[52] US. Cl 165/105, 28/62, 34/151, 57/34 HS, 165/76, 219/388 [51] Int. Cl D02j 13/00, F26b 13/02 [58] Field of Search 28/62; 57/34 HS; 219/388; 165/105, 76; 34/151 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,298,430 1/1967 Kodaira 165/105 2,125,261 7/1938 165/76 X 3,507,322 4/1970 Tetrick et a1. 165/76 X 3,395,433 8/1968 Kodaira et al. 165/105 X 3,534,483 10/1970 Kodaira et al. 28/62 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France 165/105 1 Nov. 6, 1973 Primary Examiner-Albert W. Davis, Jr. Assistant Examiner-S. J. Richter Attorney-Peter P. Price et al.

571 ABSTRACT Heat treatment apparatus for synthetic fiber yarn including a plurality of spaced heating units, each unit including a vertically positioned closed vessel having a longitudinally positioned heater chamber. Liquid in the chamber, when heated, produces a heated vapor in the vessel for heating the exterior yarn contacting faces fixed thereon. The heater chambers are interconnected such that a uniform temperature is maintained in each of the heating units. The units are interconnected by flexible conduits or pipes to allow the spacing between the heating units to be conveniently adjusted.

' 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF SYNTHETIC FIBRE YARN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to heat treatment of synthetic fiber yarn and more particularly, to a heat treatment apparatus which includes a plurality of heat exchangers. Each heat exchanger includes a vapor chamber and a liquid heating chamber. Means is provided in the heating chamber for heating a liquid contained therein to thereby cause a heated vapor to flow into the vapor chamber. The heated vapor transfers heat through the walls of the chamber to its exterior where yarncontacting faces are provided. Conduit means connect an upper portion of each vapor chamber to the heater chamber and each of the heater chambers are connected by means of a flexible conduit. Accordingly, the

relative positioning between each of the chambers may be easily adjusted. Since the chambers are interconnected, uniform pressure and temperature may be maintained therein and the flexible conduit allows the relative position of each of the heating chambers to be conveniently adjusted without replacement of the connecting conduit.

Prior art liquid vapor heating devices having a plurality of vertical vessels with heat-contacting faces formedthereon generally include an upper pipe connecting each of the vessels to another for passage of the vapor. A lower pipe is also provided and forms a heating chamber in which a heater element is provided to heat the liquid contained therein. In vertical vessels having yarn-contacting faces on both the front and the back portions of the vessel, the upper and lower pipes through which the vapor and liquid in the vessels pass causes difficulty particularly in the lower communicating pipe. It is required that the lower communicating pipe be of a fairly large diameter and it must extend a sufficient length from the side of each vertical vessel such that a pipe connected to the upper portion of the vapor chamber can be connected thereto. It is not only troublesome in its construction, but also in its operation. There is also a disadvantage since saturated heat medium vapor for heating the vessels is condensed in the vessels and heat medium liquid in the lower communicating pipe becomes co-existent thereby cooling the vessels. As a result, temperature distribution throughout the vessels is not uniform;

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat treatment apparatus for synthetic yarn including a plurality of heat exchangers or vessels each having yarn-contacting faces on the front and back walls and in which, when heat medium vapor produced in heating chambers associated therewith is introduced in the vertical vessel, the temperature of the vapor remains constant so that a uniform temperature is constantly maintained throughout each of the vessels.

Another object of the present invention provides a heating apparatus having a plurality of heat exchangers interconnected by means of flexible conduit means so that the space between adjacent vessels is easily adjusted even after the vessels are assembled.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-section heat treatment apparatus for synthetic yarn wherein each section includes a separate liquid heating chamber each of the heating chambers being interconnected to thereby maintain uniform temperatures in each of the sections.

In order to accomplish these and other objects of the present invention, a heater element is placed horizontally at one side of the bottom of each vessel. The heating chambers are filled with a heat medium liquid to submerge a heater provided therein. An upper or liquid phase portion of each of the heater chambers are interconnected by means of a flexible pipe or conduit. The upper portions of each vertical vessel are also interconnected to an upper common pipe or conduit through flexible pipes and the upper pipe and lower pipe may also be connected with flexible piping.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partially in cross section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane Ill-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane VIIIVIII of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the heat treatment apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a'plurality of closed vertical vessels or heat exchangers 1 for heat treatment of yarn. Each of the vertical vessels include front and back yarn-contacting faces 2 and 3 respectively. The yarn-contacting faces may be provided with a groove 3' therein as shown in FIG. 4 or alternately, may be of a flat configuration. A heater chamber 4 is placed horizontally and extends rearwardly from one side of and along the bottom of each of the vertical vessels 1. An electrical heater element 5 is provided in each of the heater chambers. A heat medium liquid 6 is provided in the heater chambers and submerges the heater element 5. The liquid is placed in the closed vessel after it has been evacuated to thereby form a closed system. As will be more fully described hereinafter, the vertical vessels and heater chambers are interconnected with one another through suitable piping or conduit; therefore, the liquid in each vessel maintains the same level. The interior of each vertical vessel 1 and heater chamber 4 communicate with one another through a port 7.

The upper portion of each of the vertical vessels 1 is connected to a common communicating pipe or header 8 through connecting pipes 9. Preferably, the connecting pipe 9 extends from a side of the vessel near its upper portion and is of sufficient length to allow shifting the vessels 1 to the left or the right. The back portion of each of the heater chambers are interconnected by means of a pipe 10. This pipe is made of flexible material such as copper or the like so that the space between adjacent heater chambers and vertical vessels may be varied. A narrow tube 11 connects the pipe 8 3 to the upper portion of each of the heater chambers 4 through which a condensed liquid from the vapor in the upper pipe 8 is returned to the heater chamber. Preferably, a number of such tubes 11 are provided so that the condensed liquid is dispersed in each of the heating chambers 4 to thereby avoid lowering the temperature of the heat medium liquid in any one of the chambers. A bellows 12 of elastic material is provided at one end of a tube extending from a part of any one of the vessels. The bellows is preferably located on the vessel in an intermediate section of the apparatus. The bellows 12 is operated by variations of vapor pressure in the vessels and controls a switching mechanism connected between an electric source (not shown) and the heaters 5 in each of the heater chambers 4. Alternately, a thermocouple switching element may be provided on one or all of the vessels acting directly with the variation of. its temperature so as to keep the temperature of all the vessels substantially uniform.

Since the vapor chambers in each vessel 1 are connected together through pipes 9 and the header 8, and

the heater chambers 4 are connected together through the lower pipe and port 7, the liquid 6 is maintained at the same level in each of the heating elements. Heated vapor produced by heating the liquid6 with the heater element 5 flows through the upper pipes 8 and 9 from one vessel to the other. The vapor pressure in each vessel as well as the temperature therein remains uniform. Therefore, by controlling the vapor pressure in any one vessel, the temperature of all of the vessels can be maintained uniform.

The heat medium vapor produced in the heating chamber 4 immediately fills the vertical vessel 1 associated therewith through the port 7. Uniform temperature distribution suitable for heat treatment of the yarn can be obtained in all ofthe vessels. There is no lowering of the temperature as seen in the conventional yarn heat-treatment apparatus of prior art structures. In addition, the utilization of separate but interconnected heater chambers for each of the vessels connected by flexible pipes allows the relative position of the vessels and its associated heaterchamber to be conveniently adjusted in a manner heretofore unknown.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT An alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in F IGS. 6 through 8 wherein except for the specific details which will be pointed out hereinbelow, the construction thereof is essentially the same as thatshown in FIGS. 1 through 5. Like parts are therefore illustrated with like reference numerals and a detailed description will be given only for those elements necessary to the construction of the alternate embodiment.

in this embodiment, a pipe 13 is connected between the upper portion of each vertical vessel 1 and the heater chamber 4. A condenser 14 is provided along the length of the pipe 13 between the vertical vessel and the heater chamber. Each of the heater chambers 4 are also connected to each other by means of flexible pipes 10 and 15. Flexible pipe 10, as in the previous embodiment, connects the lower or liquid phase portion of each of the heater chambers. Flexible pipe 15 connects the upper or vapor phase portion of each of the heater chambers together.

The remaining elements are identical to those previously described, the primary difference residing in the provision of the condenser 14 rather than the header 8 in the previous embodiment and additionally, in the provision of an additional interconnecting pipe 15 connecting the vapor phase or upper portion of each of the vessels.

While the preferred and an alternate embodiment of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that modifications incorporating the teachings hereof may be readily made in the light of this disclosure. Therefore, all modifications employing the principles of this invention are considered as included in the appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. Apparatus for heat treating synthetic fibrous yarn comprising:

a plurality of heat exchangers, each said heat exchanger including a vapor chamber and a liquid heating chamber;

heating means in each said heating chamber for heating a liquid contained therein;

conduit means connecting an upper portion of each said vapor chamber to said heating chamber; and

flexible conduit means connecting each of said heating chambers.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned conduit means includes a header, said upper portion of each of said vapor chambers being connected to said header and means connecting said header to at least some of said heating chambers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means connecting the upper portion of said vapor chamber to said header and said means connecting said header to at least some of said chambers comprises flexible conduit.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising condenser means connected between the upper portion of each said vapor chamber and said heating chamber; and a pair of flexible conduits interconnecting each of said heating chambers, one of said pair being adapted for transmission of liquid between said heating chambers and the other of said pair being adapted for transmission of vapor between said. chambers.

5. Apparatus for heat treatment of synthetic fiber yarn comprising: I

a plurality of vertical closed vessels;

heater chambers extending from one side of the bottom of each of said vertical vessels, the interior of each of said vessels communicating with the interior of the associated heater chamber;

yarn-contacting faces on the front and back portions of each said vessel;

pipe means connecting the upper portion of each vessel to said heater chamber; and

flexible pipe means connecting said heater chambers to each other. I

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the upper portion of each said vertical vessel is connected to an upper communicating pipewith a flexible pipe, and said upper communicating pipe is connected to said heater chambers with flexible pipes.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the interior of each said heater chamber includes a liquid phase portion and a vapor phase portion, said liquid phase portions of each of said heater chambers being interconnected to one another.

said

6 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said yarn-contacting faces on the front and back portions of said vessels are in the form of a groove extending vertically along the length of said vessels.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 character-' ized in that said yarmcontacting faces are flat.

" UNITED STATES IA'IIilN'I OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO 3 770 051 Dated November 6 1973 lnvventofls) Nobuhisa Kodaira It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

. I F Column 6,, line 1:

"claim 1" should be ----claim 5 Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197LL.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD l I.PLETGHEH,JR. v C MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 3 3 3? UNITED S'IA'IES IA'IEN'I. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 770 051 Dated November 6 1973 Patent No.

Inventoflg) Nobu hisa Kodaira It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[- Column 6, line 1:

"claim 1" should be ----claim 5 Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 197E.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD ILFLETCIIEI-LJR. v C MARSHALL DANE Attesting Officer- Commissioner of Patents 

1. Apparatus for heaT treating synthetic fibrous yarn comprising: a plurality of heat exchangers, each said heat exchanger including a vapor chamber and a liquid heating chamber; heating means in each said heating chamber for heating a liquid contained therein; conduit means connecting an upper portion of each said vapor chamber to said heating chamber; and flexible conduit means connecting each of said heating chambers.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first-mentioned conduit means includes a header, said upper portion of each of said vapor chambers being connected to said header and means connecting said header to at least some of said heating chambers.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means connecting the upper portion of said vapor chamber to said header and said means connecting said header to at least some of said chambers comprises flexible conduit.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising condenser means connected between the upper portion of each said vapor chamber and said heating chamber; and a pair of flexible conduits interconnecting each of said heating chambers, one of said pair being adapted for transmission of liquid between said heating chambers and the other of said pair being adapted for transmission of vapor between said chambers.
 5. Apparatus for heat treatment of synthetic fiber yarn comprising: a plurality of vertical closed vessels; heater chambers extending from one side of the bottom of each of said vertical vessels, the interior of each of said vessels communicating with the interior of the associated heater chamber; yarn-contacting faces on the front and back portions of each said vessel; pipe means connecting the upper portion of each said vessel to said heater chamber; and flexible pipe means connecting said heater chambers to each other.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the upper portion of each said vertical vessel is connected to an upper communicating pipe with a flexible pipe, and said upper communicating pipe is connected to said heater chambers with flexible pipes.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the interior of each said heater chamber includes a liquid phase portion and a vapor phase portion, said liquid phase portions of each of said heater chambers being interconnected to one another.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the upper portion of each said vessel is connected to each heater chamber through a pipe means including a condenser, and said heater chambers are connected to one another through a pair of pipes, one of said pair being positioned for a liquid transmission and the other of said pair being positioned for vapor transmission.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said yarn-contacting faces on the front and back portions of said vessels are in the form of a groove extending vertically along the length of said vessels.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that said yarn-contacting faces are flat. 